Two weeks after the 2010 property tax deadline, Tax Commissioner Sharon Troglin said collections are on par with previous years, and she expects more to roll in by the end of January.

Taxes were due Dec. 6 and, so far, Troglin said 80 percent of real property taxes have been collected, equaling $23,083,075. The total amount of real property taxes levied is $28.7 million. Of personal property, 77 percent, or $1,106,286.31, has been collected out of the $1,431,454 of taxes levied.

The county tax office also receives mobile home taxes, and, according to Troglin, 77 percent (or $210,618) of those taxes have been collected. The total amount levied for mobile homes is $272,924.76. Timber taxes have brought in another $8,261 to government coffers, right at 79 percent of the $10,413 imposed for 2010. Heavy equipment taxes, with a collection rate currently at 79 percent, have brought in $405.70.

“We’re running about the same that we were last year at this same point,” Troglin said. “A lot of people will probably pay by the end of January.”

Each month taxes go unpaid there is a one percent penalty applied to the total bill, Troglin said. In addition, if taxes are still unpaid after three months, an additional, one-time penalty of 10 percent is also added.

“It rolls a percent on the sixth of each month, but at three months it also adds on a 10 percent penalty on the taxes,” she said. “Most people will pay, but some might decide to wait until the end of the year. We’ll have more to pay between now and January 6, I’m sure.”

Once checks are posted to individual accounts, Troglin writes checks to various governmental agencies to fund their budgets for the upcoming year. Money collected for property taxes goes to the county, the local school system and state government. Troglin said at the height of tax season, she sends checks out daily.

“Typically my payout is one time a week, but when collections are extremely heavy, it’s every day. The check amounts are based on the millage rate imposed by the state, county, and schools. If we collect $100,000, then you multiply it by the millage they’ve each imposed and send the checks.”

County government receives the 10 percent penalty imposed for any taxes paid three months after the deadline. The one percent interest charged each month for late tax payments is divided among the state, the county, the school system, and cities of Jasper, Talking Rock and Nelson.

The county charges the state, school and city governments for processing their portion of the tax billing. The school system is charged 2.5 percent, the state two percent and city governments are charged four percent, Troglin said.

The school system imposed $23.36 million and the county $8.1 million for local property taxes in 2010.

Christie Pool can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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